Nature^ Longevity , and Size of Trees. 16 



sufficient evidence that the allegations made as to the annual 

 growths are well-founded, and indeed to be explicable only 

 by a reference to the principles involved in them. From 

 the yearly bud taken from one kind of tree and dul)" grafted 

 on another, of the same natural family, though of a different 

 species, we obtain the following year a growth, and in the 

 course of years a tree, exactly similar to the tree, and to the 

 other growths of the tree, whence it was derived ; the tree 

 thus formed, though growing on another, preserving, never- 

 theless, its own distinctive character, having its own pecu- 

 liar leaves and blossom, producing its own peculiar fruit, and 

 being in every way as perfect a tree as if it had been raised 

 from a seed, and had grown up independently from the 

 ground. And it is not unimportant to observe, as instanced 

 in our various " fruit" trees, that any particular variety may 

 be, in this way, not only multiplied indefinitely, but preserved 

 in perpetuity^ although the original, or any single tree of that 

 variety, will not (from accidental causes, however) continue 

 to last for ever. Similar observations apply to the indefinite 

 multiplication and endless perpetuation of such trees {e.g. 

 the willow) as admit of being artificially propagated by slips 

 or layers. And it is thus that the Banian tree extends itself 

 naturally, dropping branches provided with buds, fixing them- 

 selves in the soil, and becoming vast trunks, and these readily 

 convertible (I presume) into separate and perfectly inde- 

 pendent trees, by artificially severing their connections above. 

 And the trees thus produced admit of a similar extension, 

 and the trunks proceeding from them of a similar conversion. 



The evidence adduced under this general head seems to 

 me complete and decisive. It may be asked, however, where 

 are the roots of the annual growths (and alleged perfect 

 plants) in trees \ And,* again, what is there in avowedly 

 annual and perfect plants, or even in such perennial plants 

 ad the potato, analogous to the woody layer in exogenous 

 trees, which extends downwards from the base of the shoots 

 into the soil \ 



These questions may easily be answered. With reference 

 to the former, it may be remarked, that the circumstance 

 of the growths in question being destitute of true roots, sup- 



